New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-02
THE OLDEST HOUSE IN BROOKLYN
BUILT MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO.

| A RELIC or THE EARLY DAYS OF BUsHwlcK, on
PART or THE THIRD CITY IN TIE LAND.
What Is probably the oldest bouse in Brooklyn
stsnds at the intersection OF Evergrees-ave. and
| Woodbine-st, ia the outlying Eighteenth Ward Of
that city, which ID rapidly being covered with
hooses to accom- modats the population brought by
the elevated road in Broadway, which skirts the
ward. A strange contrast is afforded BY the jaxta-
position of this dwelling Of the seventeenth century
and those of to-day near il.
The old house IL low and broad, with suggestion Of
amplitude entirely foreign 10 narrow and contracted
houses which fill row after row OF the ST eets cut
across what was the Suvdsm farm. IL has been
the Suydam homestead for 140 years. and how much
further back Il dates 10 not absolutely certain. but
there indications that it is at least two centuries
old The attention of the pssser is at once attracted
the structure not only from its quaint appearance
with its low, broad caves, bat from the fact that it
does not conform to the street lines IL Is at quite an
angle to Evercreenave. upon which II faces, and
stands on due north and south line.
The side OF the house q noonmark the
passing of the tho meridian being noted BY
the shadow of the house falling upon the easter,y
side The first story is built of whitewsshcd walls Of
stone and the low extend fully three feet out
over the front and The gables sbinsled and
there are only attc upstairs The front porch
J.. close the ground and the only roof TO it is tho
projecting caves An ancient double dOur. the uVpep
part swinging separately from the lower, admits ost
TO the house after he the old fashioned ksockeL
!. The owner and occupant Ia ADRIAN n Suyd@m. Wnc
although he has been a member of Assembly. Alder.
man. member OF the Board OF Education and bank
director set down in tho city direct ry farmer,
one OF the few OF that class who live in Brooklyn He
was found che other day just rising from the midday
meal by RIBUNE reporter to whom he SAID lie had
always been daily reader of the paper founded by
Horace Greeley. He cordially RESP onted to questions
about his home.
~ Az often anused," said he, q - the curiosity
neoole who pass display about the old house. TIE
"A sapA Mt m a
and asked nee how old the house Three
hundred years. | said, and they went on perfectly
satishsd,' aud Mr. Suydam laughed heartily az tho
idea that the house had beer built before Hendriek
Hudson discovered the river which bears bic name.
But" he continued, " believe it to be fully 100
years old Ny grandfather settled here l4o years
had to put shingles ON The root soc u aftei he
bou it, and shingles IN those days, made by hand
and carefully laid lasted sixty seventy years At
that time there road here aud he had
ONLY private way thrsGgn the WOODS three OF tour
miles to the Jamaica turnpike, now Futon-st Alter
ward a road was cut rhroulh the town OF bushwiek,
in which this stands. from WILLIAMSBURG and ran past
| his door. Ii was called the Bushwick turnpike ard
the house froned il until the city survey was made
and new streets were laid out"
sThe hoe must be substantially ouhs,' said tue re-
! porter.
| Come up-stairs and sec," said Mr. Suydam
daily Beneath tho low sioping root one end OF the
attic had not been finished on and the rafiers were
| bare They are of solid white oak four inches
suuare aud still show the marks of the axe of the
man who pred and be red them than 200 years
ago The rafters OVERLAND With oaken lafh, 10
which the shingles nailed with drought nals. tue
holes tor them being all bored owing to the hardness
of the wood The stone walls oil the house are more
than foot thick and pierced with long, narrow
windows in which are sreall squares OF glass. The
shingles in the gables, Mr.. Suydam believes are the
omrs orig nally put the buidng.
In the Revolutionary War his grandfather. Jacee
Suydam. who was q stanch patriot, was compelled
to give up his house Tor the use OF Hessian soldiers
or the adirty s,ues" as they were called from ,he!
Gltnv habits VINO were quartered In all parts Of
Brooklyn after the i-tated battle OF Long Island.
The present occupant 10 the last Of he family and he
has lived ia the house sixty years. He cult.
Yates such parts the Original Suydam farm of 500
acres as are yet sold tor building lots. huge
barn stands In the rear of the aouse. Mr.. Suydam
said he a. asked why he did not build 1ew
house, but he said he always answered IL at he was
perfectly satisfied with what good enough Tor his
father Tho generous sized Dutch rooms had air Of
home comfort rarely found la a city house. But 10
probably will not be many before this relic OF
the early settlement of BrookIyB is swept away.